(CNN) - There are so many scandals in Washington, Sarah Palin said, they could be lumped under the name of the botched gun-running sting that landed Attorney General Eric Holder in hot water long before the Benghazi, IRS or NSA stories came to light.

Palin was the final speaker and star of the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference Saturday program, where she served up her criticism of President Barack Obama with her trademark witticisms.

The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee offered no clues in her speech about her political future but was introduced by a video that culminated with footage of a roaring and rearing bear. It was a tribute to her "mama grizzly" effort on behalf of tenacious women running for public office.

Asked by CNN if she would be on the campaign trail again in 2014 on behalf of fellow Republicans, Palin replied, "Absolutely, more than ever."

"Time's-a-wasting. Things are moving really quickly and if we don't get out there and defend this republic then America will be transformed into something we do not recognize," she told CNN.

She is also returning to television, where she has been largely absent since her contract with Fox News ended last year. The network said Thursday that she is returning as a paid commentator.

At the conference, she said the Washington controversies remind her of a sarcastic sketch performed by her "really, really good friends at Saturday Night Live." (They're friends, she said, because she provided actress Tina Fey, her look-alike, "job security.")

"Our government spied on every single one of your phone calls but it couldn't find two pot smoking dead-beat Bostonians with a hotline to terrorist central in Chechnya. Really?"

"Its built apparatus to sneak into all the good guys communications, but oops-a-daisy, it missed the Fort Hood mass murder of our own troops despite this Islamic terrorist declaring his ideology in numerous Army counseling sessions and on his own business cards," she said. "Really?"

And the IRS "can't figure out how it managed to spend over 4 million dollars on a training conference because it didn't keep the receipts. Really? You try that with the IRS."

Palin swiped at a fellow Republican, too.

She appeared to reference former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's remark at the same conference on Friday that immigrants were "more fertile," made in the context that legal immigration could "create an engine of economic prosperity."

Bush is a proponent of immigration reform.

Palin responded, "I think it's kind of dangerous territory, touchy territory, to want to debate this over one race's fertility rate over another, and I say this as someone who's kinda fertile herself.

"I don't think that's where we want to go in deciding how we incentivize the hard working responsible families that want to be in the light, follow the law, and become Americans versus those whose very first act on our soil is to break the law," she said.

The former governor took what appeared to be a light-hearted dig at first lady Michelle Obama, who said while being heckled at a fundraiser this month, "One of the things I don't do well is this."

Palin said near the top of her speech, "If there's any protesters, speak now or forever hold your peace, because facing the protesters, facing the critics - that's something I do well."

She voiced her oft-stated dislike for Washington, calling it a "hot mess," and said lawmakers should listen to a senator new to the city.

"You know what I wish Congress would do - just for a week, perhaps, just put themselves on cruise control," she said.

"Ted Cruz control," she added, naming the freshman GOP senator from Texas who she campaigned for last year.

soundoff(395 Responses)

On other news, to maximize the TV audience, GOP leadership is considering Sarah Palin pop out of a cake at the next party convention in 2016.

June 16, 2013 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

johnny57

We really need to get people like Sarah Palin out of the party, and get more middle of the road, republicans like John McCain into the party. The Tea party, well, they should be a third party.

June 16, 2013 07:10 pm at 7:10 pm |

mightyduk

And republicans love her! Tells me the intelligence of those people.

June 16, 2013 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

sifto

great person–she puts the libs on notice everytime she speaks! funny and smart!

June 16, 2013 07:25 pm at 7:25 pm |

may40

Oh you foolish foolish liberals...Biden is such a complete idiot and you just ignore it. A conservative woman who speaks her mind and you destroy her. Intolerance at its finest.!!!

June 16, 2013 07:26 pm at 7:26 pm |

PikeRover

"If there's any protesters, speak now or forever hold your peace, because facing the protesters, facing the critics – that's something I do well."

Bring it on any time or place.....You may do it well but you don't do it with any facts.

June 16, 2013 07:36 pm at 7:36 pm |

Max

She's starting to look pretty good... now that we all know just how corrupt Obama is with scandal after scandal coming out daily.

June 16, 2013 07:36 pm at 7:36 pm |

liberal disease

liberals can dish it out but can't take it.They are humorless when it comes to themselves, but have no problem laughing at and demeaning others, just look at that stain Bill Maher

June 16, 2013 07:38 pm at 7:38 pm |

Joshua Wertheim

She says she's still fertile. Hubba hubba. Except half the child's genetics would be hers. Never mind.

June 16, 2013 07:41 pm at 7:41 pm |

fayray11x

palin is just one huge joke. the only ones who take her "seriously" are old GOP perverts dreaming about doing her.

June 16, 2013 07:44 pm at 7:44 pm |

crm041066

easy to sit behind a computer and throw stones. Trolls.

June 16, 2013 07:48 pm at 7:48 pm |

Michael

Either she's an idiot or she knows exactly what to say to fire up her idiotic base. Maybe both? Either way it doesn't speak very well of us as a people that this woman has a significant following.

June 16, 2013 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |

rkdres

So much hate from the left....how ironic.

June 16, 2013 07:59 pm at 7:59 pm |

loosun

Palin is a national embarassment and gives a bad name to women in politics. The Media needs to stop giving her attention as this is what she craves. She has been able to get to Hollywood yet.

June 16, 2013 08:01 pm at 8:01 pm |

Jenny

This is why the Republican Party will not when the White House anytime soon. When are we going to stop putting ignorant mouthpieces at the forefront & face of the party?! Palin, McCain, Graham, and McConnell should retire from public life. Give the party a chance to win in 2016!

June 16, 2013 08:02 pm at 8:02 pm |

Bubba

I love Sarah. She does more damage to the GOP cause in 20 words, than the entire DNC in 200 speeches.
If Sarah makes enough of a fuss, she may inspire us to allow Obama a third term.

June 16, 2013 08:02 pm at 8:02 pm |

Carol

It is not possible for anyone to be more out of her league than Palin!

June 16, 2013 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

ArghONaught

Do you mean there is a real Sarah Palin? I thought it was just a dumb character Tina Fey came up with. Nobody could be that ridiculous! Or can they?

June 16, 2013 08:10 pm at 8:10 pm |

gstlab3

all you hate Palin because she is still rather good looking and has better ideas and convictions than any liberal progressive communist ever had.

June 16, 2013 08:15 pm at 8:15 pm |

gstlab3

democrat is just another word for ugly chick who could never ever get married or get a job other than street walker.

June 16, 2013 08:16 pm at 8:16 pm |

Gracey

I love Sarah. There are some people who are mean-spirited and hateful towards her and her family, but I am glad she doesn't listen to .. or care .. what the haters think.
More power to her.

June 16, 2013 08:22 pm at 8:22 pm |

NY Repub

I wish she would get out of the spot light. No national canidate for the GOP will win with her backing. It is an anchor having her endoorsement unless your running for congress in a protected district. She does more harm than good!!!!

June 16, 2013 08:30 pm at 8:30 pm |

soul68

If only we could power our cars on her empty phrases like "hard workin patriot" and "defending our Republic" you could put rig on her mouth and solve all our energy problems.

June 16, 2013 09:05 pm at 9:05 pm |

Loathstheright

Republicans have a strange sense of humor.....I don't think they understand it at all.

June 16, 2013 09:09 pm at 9:09 pm |

Cammie

She still talks as if she doesn't read any newspapers. She has her wig on too tight, which is why is receding back showing her hairl-line. I mean really, whose hair bangs sit 2 inches off their head?